How does satellite radio work?

Satellite radio in amateur radio enables radio amateurs to send and receive signals via specially designed amateur radio satellites, so-called OSCAR satellites (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio). These satellites serve as relay stations in space. A radio amateur uses his transceiver to send a signal to one of these satellites. The satellite receives the signal, amplifies it and sends it back to Earth on a different frequency. This allows communication over long distances, even across continents, without the need for terrestrial repeaters or Internet connections. To operate satellite radio, radio amateurs need appropriate equipment, which includes a tracking antenna to track the satellite, a transceiver that supports the appropriate frequencies, and often a computer to control and track the satellite. Knowledge of how to deal with Doppler shift and the specific operating times of the satellites are also required for successful satellite radio operations.